John Milton's sonnets and literary significance

¶ … Death and Mortality Through the Works of Milton

Milton explores the concept of death and mortality in many of his works. Some of the most beautifully written prose as well as poetry that deal with this subject matter can be found in Lycidas as well as a few other sonnets. Lycidas, for example, was written into a collection of works to commemorate the death of King Edward, who was one of Milton's college mates. King Edward drowns off the coast of Whales in 1637, and Milton thought it fitting to write about the King and the short-lived friendship they shared. Milton's Comus, written as a masque in honor of chastity, also embodies the idea that death and mortality approach quickly, and that those who are virtuous and honorable will ultimately rise to heaven and be rewarded in the afterlife.

Lycidas was written to mourn King Edward, and Milton pays tribute to him through his work. It is easy to see that Milton is drawing from his heart, and creates a tone or setting in which nature itself pays tribute and mourns the death of such a noble figure.

"But O. The heavy change, now thou art gon,

Now thou art gon, and never must return!

Thee Shepherd, thee the Woods, and desert Caves,

With wilde Thyme and the gadding Vine o'regrown, [ 40 ]

And all their echoes mourn.

The Willows, and the Hazle Copses green,

Shall now no more be seen,

Fanning their joyous Leaves to thy soft layes.

As killing as the Canker to the Rose, [ 45 ]

Or Taint-worm to the weanling Herds that graze,

Or Frost to Flowers, that their gay wardrop wear,

When first the White thorn blows;

Such, Lycidas, thy loss to Shepherds ear. (Milton, 37-49)

This particular passage conjures up thoughts that the natural forces at work themselves have been stalled or effected by the passing of the King. These images also serve as a beautiful metaphor for the image and soul of a man who was regarded by Milton and the rest of the nation at the time to be larger than life. Perhaps this is a fitting label since Milton compares his death to the cycle of the seasons themselves, unrelenting and dooming for the creatures that die off during the fall and winter.

In another part of this work, Milton presents a dialogue of sorts between the Greek God of the sea, Neptune, and the sea itself:

"That came in Neptune's plea, [ 90 ]

He ask'd the Waves, and ask'd the Fellon winds,

What hard mishap hath doom'd this gentle swain?

And question'd every gust of rugged wings

That blows from off each beaked Promontory,

They knew not of his story." (Milton, 90-95).

Here, Milton is creating the image of Neptune himself objecting to the Waves' intentions of killing the King. Neptune argues with the sea and presents a case for not swallowing up the King by essentially asking, "What has he done to deserve this fate?." Milton is presenting the idea that nature itself had a hard time dooming such a great and honorable man. This shows that the King, while not above the clutches of death, was a human being who deserved nature's mercy, and that sparing a person of his stature was something nature toiled with.

Milton presents the ideas of death and mortality in a completely different manner in Sonnet XIX. Just as King Edward had a purpose in life, to rule as King of England, Milton himself feels as though he has a particular purpose in life, and that a death without living for this purpose would be unfitting. He also feels that in his work, he is reminded of his own mortality, and fleeting time here on Earth. He strives to accomplish much with the talent he possesses. Milton's use of the line, "They also serve who only stand and wait." (Milton, 14) shows that standing idle and waiting for death and the inevitable extinguishing of one's talents and senses is something that must be avoided. This line also shows Milton's concern for impending events and the unrelenting nature of death and mortality themselves.

Milton's Sonnet XXIII, entitled, "On His Deceased Wife" also deals with death quite directly. The poet works to paint an image of a loving, sweet wife who returned from the grave to greet him in his dreams. But, just as he goes to embrace her, she disappears. Milton writes,

"Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,

Came vested all in white, pure as her mind:

Her face was veil'd;5 yet to my fancied sight

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shin'd

So clear, as in no face with more delight. (Milton, 8-12)

This melancholy picture is created as a sort of reminded that death has taken his wife yet he can still visit her in his dreams. In this way, metaphorically, the wife has not truly "died," but instead can be resurrected or remembered at any given time in his dreams. This is a sad lament for a lover long gone, yet Milton is able to touch upon the fact that this woman was able to bring so much light and joy in her life, and therefore in visiting him in his dream, reminded him of his own light and his own love for her.

Comus is a story that Milton wrote as a sort of lesson to all people that those who prevail over personal and moral trials will ultimately receive a reward for their actions. In the story, Comus kidnaps the Lady and subjects her to torment, asking her to drink from the metaphorical cup of debauchery and intemperance. When she refuses, and after her brothers find her, she is put upon a pedestal to all Christians as an example of chastity and virtuousness. The Lady, as Milton writes, will receive a handsome reward for her steadfast virtue. This story is as much of a social commentary on women and Christianity as it is on virtuosity and chastity. Milton's constantly reminding the reader that mortality will eventually creep up on everyone, and that people who have their lives in order and who exercise recta ratio (right reason) will be rewarded in the afterlife. Here Milton again explores the theme of death.